BOSTON — Drew Pomeranz’s second appearance with the Red Sox was the polar opposite of his debut, in more ways than one.
The All-Star left-hander delivered a strong performance Monday night at Fenway Park, but this time, his offense couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain, plating just two runs in a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
Boston now has lost three of its last four games. Here’s how this one went down.
GAME IN A WORD
Slip.
The Red Sox struck first, but their tenuous 1-0 lead fell apart late, as Boston allowed four runs over the final four innings to let this one get away.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
The Red Sox couldn’t come up clutch in the eighth inning.
Boston loaded the bases with nobody out and tallied four hits in the frame but only had one run to show for it, allowing the Tigers to maintain a 4-2 lead.
ON THE BUMP
— Pomeranz’s second outing with the Red Sox went much better than his first, albeit with an untimely blemish.
The left-hander pitched six strong innings, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out seven and walking two. But those two runs came at a bad time, as Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias touched Pomeranz for a two-run home run in the sixth inning that put Detroit up 2-1.
Still, the outing was a big step in the right direction for Pomeranz, who retired 12 of 13 batters at one point and lowered his ERA to 2.84.
— Joe Kelly pitched the seventh and allowed one run in his Red Sox bullpen debut. The right-hander surrendered a leadoff triple to outfielder Justin Upton, then gave up an RBI single to catcher James McCann two batters later that put Detroit up 3-1.
— Clay Buchholz came on for the eighth and also surrendered a run thanks to a pair of Tigers hits sandwiched by a passed ball that got past catcher Sandy Leon.
Buchholz worked a clean ninth, however, finishing with one run allowed on two hits while recording one strikeout.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Travis Shaw put the Red Sox on the board in the second inning with an RBI double down the right field line that scored Jackie Bradley Jr. from first base.
— Bradley went 2-for-3 on the night with a walk and a run scored.
— Dustin Pedroia went 1-for-4 with a single and a walk. He now has reached base in 28 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the American League.
— Leon had another solid night at the plate, going 2-for-4 and delivering an RBI single in the eighth inning.
— Xander Bogaerts had two chances to put the Red Sox on the board but popped out twice with runners on first and second. He finished 1-for-5.
— Bryce Brentz pinch-hit for Shaw in the eighth but struck out with no outs and the bases loaded.
— Mookie Betts went 0-for-5 in his return to Boston’s lineup after missing two games and grounded out with the bases loaded to end the eighth.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
Kelly turned up the heat in his new role.
UP NEXT
Knuckleballer Steven Wright will take the mound Tuesday for Boston against Tigers right-hander Mike Pelfrey in Game 2 of the teams’ three-game set. First pitch at Fenway Park is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images